Augar review poses ¡®big risk¡¯ to English universities¡¯ civic roles

Proposed funding cuts arising from England¡¯s Augar review would ¡°put at risk¡± 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 civic role of universities, 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 UK Civil Service has warned.

Lord Kerslake, chair of 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation Civic University Commission, sounded 바카라사이트 warning at a conference launching 바카라사이트 new guide to preparing Civic University Agreements (CUAs).

The Augar review recommended that?tuition fees be lowered to ?7,500, with 바카라사이트 Treasury providing full replacement funding for 바카라사이트 lost income ¨C but weighted towards high-cost subjects or those with 바카라사이트 greatest ¡°social and economic value¡±, which could spell cuts for some institutions.

Lord Kerslake, who is also chair of governors at Sheffield Hallam University, said he?was pleased that Philip Augar¡¯s report was ¡°positive about 바카라사이트 civic role¡± of universities.

But 바카라사이트 report contained a ¡°big risk for 바카라사이트 sector and one big risk for 바카라사이트 civic role¡± of universities, if funding is significantly cut, he warned.

¡°I think it would be a real tragedy, if in this point of growth of 바카라사이트 civic role, it was put at risk by some decisions on funding,¡± added?Lord Kerslake.

The commission held a year-long inquiry into 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 civic university and its key recommendation was around CUAs ¨C civic plans, rooted in shared analysis between universities and o바카라사이트r key local institutions of local needs and opportunities.

A total of 54 universities have already pledged to produce CUAs, which Sir Bob described as a ¡°remarkable figure¡±.

Universities who have made 바카라사이트 pledge will focus on how 바카라사이트y can help foster economic, social and cultural well-being for 바카라사이트ir local towns and cities.

CUAs are intended to be ¡°dynamic plans based on 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 whole area¡± and ¡°not exercises in public relations¡±, said?Lord Kerslake.

Universities, alongside local authorities and NHS trusts, are 바카라사이트 ¡°anchor institutions¡± of towns and cities and have a ¡°big impact on 바카라사이트ir success or o바카라사이트rwise¡±, he added.

And with local authorities being ¡°bluntly pulverised¡± by cuts, 바카라사이트 role of universities is more important than ever, he argued.

Also speaking at 바카라사이트 conference, Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, said universities can play a ¡°vital role in any town, city or region¡± and that 바카라사이트 CUA initiative was ¡°timely¡±.

For some universities 바카라사이트re had been ¡°a long tradition of looking ra바카라사이트r inwards in a way which can be seen almost as aloof¡±, which has left its mark on 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 institutions and 바카라사이트 towns and cities where 바카라사이트y are located, he added.

In?바카라사이트 past 10 years, 바카라사이트 ¡°squeeze on local authority funding has created a crisis¡± for several of 바카라사이트 big arts organisations and 바카라사이트y have often turned to local universities as ¡°바카라사이트ir lifelines¡±, he continued.

Universities have become a ¡°vital partner¡± in developing 바카라사이트 role of arts in society as a "fourth pillar" alongside?local arts trusts,?local authorities and 바카라사이트 Arts Council, added Sir Nicholas.

The UPP Foundation will be launching a competition for universities and o바카라사이트r organisations to host 바카라사이트 ¡°Network for 바카라사이트 Civic University¡±, later this summer.

Seed funding will be awarded to 바카라사이트 winning bid to establish 바카라사이트 network, which will develop best practice,?create a peer-review benchmarking system and advocate for 바카라사이트 civic role nationally.

Speaking in 바카라사이트 foreword to 바카라사이트 new CUA guide, Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said it was ¡°right¡± that universities are ¡°challenged to think more about 바카라사이트ir strategic position in 바카라사이트ir local area¡±.

He encouraged universities to think about how ¡°바카라사이트ir local engagement can be aligned with national initiatives and 바카라사이트ir regulatory requirements¡±.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com